12 Meditation benefits that will convince you to start meditating

Meditation benefits are copious and backed by science. Health benefits of meditation do not end, when our meditation session ends. When we meditate, we bring in comprehensive and long-term benefits into our lives. Meditation practice not only improves our mental health, also strengthen us physically. I personally have been doing it early in the morning and have made it essential part of my good morning routine. You may like to read the rituals I follow before 7 AM in the morning.

Amid Corona Virus (COVID-19) pandemic, being in the present moment and finding mental peace has never been more important. Virus mutations, lockdown and quarantine kind of words keep buzzing in our mind. We all are struggling with uncertainty and an inability to grasp what the future will hold. Mindfulness and meditation practice can help get us find a little bit of much-needed tranquil.

Meditation Benefits

Here are 12 Meditation benefits that will convince you to meditate and bring in positive change in your life.

Stress reduction

One of the most common reasons people try meditation is – it reduces stress. Science based research has shown that mindfulness meditation lowers levels of cortisol, the hormone that causes stress. Continuous stress disrupts sleep, promote anxiety and depression, boost blood pressure, and add on to fatigue and cloudy thinking.

Controls anxiety

Mindfulness and meditation exercise decreases and ease out the anxiety. When you anxious, taking just a few minutes to close your eyes and do simple breathing exercises can switch off the mechanisms in your brain that cause anxiety.

Reduces depression symptoms

Depression is a series mental health condition often triggered by stress and anxiety. Research suggests meditation can change areas of the brain, including the “me center” and “fear center,” that are linked to depression.

A review of treatments given to more than 3,500 adults found that mindfulness meditation improved symptoms of depression.

Diminishes risk of cardiovascular disease

When we have a hectic and stressful day at work or are overwhelmed at home, stress hormones called cortisol, adrenaline and norepinephrine are released. These hormones charge forward, accelerating our heart rates and blood pressures and preparing our bodies for the perceived challenges coming our way, also known as our “fight-or-flight” response. This cardiovascular stress can cause kidney damage, heart disease, heart attack and stroke.

Meditating regularly gives you a healthy heart. Meditation practice activates our bodies’ “rest-and-digest” functions, which counteracts our “flight-or-fight” responses.  Daily mindful meditation routine has been linked to lower heart rate and blood pressure, which in turn lowers your risk of heart disease.

Controls Diabetes

Diabetes is a multifaceted disorder, which can impact every organ-system of the body. Apart from its biomedical complications, diabetes also influences the emotional, mental, and social domains of health.

There are beneficial effect of meditation in reducing blood glucose level and also improving insulin resistance. Meditation suppresses stress response reducing plasma cortisol which improves glycemic control. A research shows significant decline in fasting and postprandial blood sugar levels in patients practicing meditation.

Helps in breaking addictions

Overcoming substance abuse at any age requires a lot of self-control and discipline. Meditation practices help in breaking the barrier of dry dependence and addictions; be it alcohol, smoking or drugs. Meditation sessions are commonly used in rehabilitation programs. Mindfulness and meditation practice control impulses and reduce withdrawal symptoms. Substance abusers who regularly meditate, show less aggression and craving.

Boosts concentration

When excessive things at a time go through our minds, it becomes tough to concentrate on the tasks at work or even hobbies like writing a blog. Mindful Meditation gives relaxation and positive vibes required to focus on the active job.  People who are regular meditation practitioners have heightened attention and concentration span. Mindfulness brings in you in the present moment and you become more aware about the task on hand.

Related: Meditation Quotes

Anger Management

Anger management is of utmost importance for health. Frustration and anger cause us to get stressed, activates our sympathetic nervous system, and produces shallower, faster breathing. It also results in a rapid heart rate and raises blood pressure.

Anger is a complex emotion that many often struggle to control. Repetitive and consistent  meditation practice enhances our ability to cope with this negative emotion. Mindful meditation for anger can train the mind to witness anger and then let it go.

Improves cognition

Mindfulness meditation improves cognition. Meditation practices improve the brain’s problem-solving and decision-making strategies. These skills are must for success and can bring a desirable shift in our professional life. Therefore, make meditation practice a part of their daily routine.

Develops Resilience

One of the immense benefits of practicing mindfulness and awareness meditation is that we become more flexible and more resilient. Awareness about success and failure through mindfulness and understanding the principle of duality or paradox unity helps to cope with the stressful situations in a better way. Meditation also helps us to bring in our focus and become more process oriented than result oriented. We move steadily toward our goals without being put off by failure or intoxicated by success.

Improves sleep and fights insomnia

Meditation is also an effective tool for people who struggle to fall asleep at night.  Meditation increases the natural melatonin levels to help with more restful sleep.

Meditating at night helps people with insomnia and sleep disorders. A short practice right before we hit the bed helps to calm our nerves and get us into a relaxed state before we sleep. It improves overall quality of sleep at night.

Boosts the immune system

Immunity and hygiene are the two much focused and concern area after COVID – 19 pandemic. Studies show meditation boosts the immune system. It reduces markers of inflammation, increases enzyme activity and boosts natural antibodies.

Over to you now

Over to you now. Now it’s your turn. Have you made the mindfulness and mediation a part of your daily routine? What benefits of meditation have you experienced ? Please share in the comments section below, and let’s share the knowledge to live more healthier, happier, mindful and peaceful life.

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